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Bawlf, Samuel. "The Secret Voyage of Sir Francis Drake". Allen Lane / Penguin Books, London, 2003. Hbk. Xiii, 400pp. Illus, maps, bibliog, index. £20.00 ISBN 0-713-99589-0.

As most people know, Sir Francis Drake and his crew sailed round the world in an epic voyage in the Pelican (later renamed The Golden Hinde) starting off from Plymouth in December 1577 and finally returning back in Plymouth in September 1580. This, in itself, was a magnificent achievement, making Drake the first recorded captain to complete the circumnavigation of the globe.

Not surprisingly then Drake has been the subject for many biographies over the centuries. Yet although this book deals with Drake's life and in particular the great voyage of 1577-1580 what Bawlf has attempted to do is to revise our understanding as to why the voyage was undertaken and just how far Drake was successful in his mission.

Bawlf's main contention is that the primary purpose of Drake's voyage was neither simply travelling around the world nor plundering Spanish shipping up the western coastline of the Americas, nor finding a way to Cathay. Rather Drake's mission was to discover if there was a passage that went from the Pacific over the top of North America and back down into the Atlantic. Such a passage would have meant a far shorter trip to the East Indies and would have opened all manner of trading possibilities for English merchants. Further it could have allowed for colonisation and the creation of a fleet based on the west coast of what became known as Canada which could have severely crippled the Spanish treasure fleets and trading in the Pacific, depriving the Spanish crown of vital revenues which was currently spending on an aggressive campaign against European Protestants, alongside whom Queen Elizabeth placed England.

It is known that Martin Frobisher had been attempting the opening up of the northwest passage from the Atlantic and had penetrated as far as what is now known as Baffin Island, yet he had been unable to prove that a passage was possible all the way westward and thence south into the Pacific. Bawlf's reasoning is that Drake's mission, was undertaken from the opposite direction to allow the most time for any attempt to cross the northern waters in summer when it was hoped that the weather would be warmest (and we must remember that this was during what climatologists call the "Little Ice Age") and there would be the least ice.

In a sense Drake's plundering of the western seaboard of the America's (successful as it was in its own terms) was more of a cover story to place him in the Pacific without the Spanish realising exactly what he was up to. This subterfuge being doubly necessary as Elizabeth's court - which had to approve of Drake's actions - was penetrated by Spanish agents who would report on Drake's plans and activities. There was also the minor problem of relations between the English and Spanish monarchies were in a state of flux and Elizabeth, whilst looking for any advantage she could gain didn't want to precipitate war with Spain if it could be avoided.

Anyway according to Bawlf's research, which is based on an examination of such extant contemporary materials that have survived such as published accounts, maps and globes, together with his own intimate knowledge of the coast line of British Columbia (where he lives and sails), his contention is that Drake must have spent some of the spring and summer of 1579 heading northwards up the north american coast, and judging by what evidence Bawlf has examined, it looks very much as though Drake got as far as Vancouver and most likely a couple of hundred miles to the north before having to turn back.

So Drake's secret Voyage isn't about a voyage that is completely unknown to historians, but is rather an addendum to an existing one. Admittedly an important addition to our knowledge but not exactly earth shattering in its importance. Bawlf also admits that there is precious little undisputed archaeological evidence to support his theory and the massive smallpox epidemics which immediately preceded European colonisation of these parts robbed us of any record of the oral history of the tribes who lives in these parts.

In short it is tantalisingly short of the clinching evidence that proves the theory. That said Bawlf has produced a competent account of the voyage. Rather a lot of the book is actually taken up with matters not directly related to the "secret voyage" itself and is sourced from existing biographies and standard histories. For myself I would have liked to have had some colour photographs of the coastline of which Bawlf is obviously familiar and the map reproductions look rather dull in monochrome. (And if one wants to be horribly pedantic the Chagres River in page 28 becomes the Charges River on the map on page 29). Obviously budget considerations have taken precedence over making a more attractive product. This will mainly appeal to those with a direct connection to the subject matter. This isn't a "Longitude" or one of the interminable "secret revelations" type books. It's far too sensible for that (and that's to its credit.) Definitely worth a perusal if you find it in the Public Library but at £20 it's too expensive for me to recommend purchasing unless you're really keen on the subject!

Summary: Worthy, interesting but a little dull.

6/10

Richard Alexander